US1749665A - Conserving storage-battery solution - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 PATENT OFC :1;

CHARLES B. DILTZ, OF FROST, TEXAS CONSERVIN G STORAGE-BATTERY SOLUTION No Drawing.

This invention relates to a storage battery solution, the object being to provide a type of solution which will conserve the life of the plates and prevent the accumulation of lead I sulphate on the surface, thus not only assisting a prolongation of useful life of the battery, but permitting a more eilicient action in storage of electric energy and deliveryin an external circuit. Sulphuric acid is com- 10 monly employed as the electrolyte of the acid type of storage batteries. The life of the plate may be greatly prolonged by a modification of the electrolyte. I have discovered that a certain combination of salts and acids 1 have a remarkably beneficial effect in preventing the formation of lead sulphate which gradually in the use of the batte accumulates and limits or destroys its e ciency.

The solution I have found most eificient for 2 combining :with the sulphated water commonly employed is composed of a mixture of sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, boric acid, tartaric acid, and carminic acid. The latter ingredient-has not only a pleasing distinctive eflect in colorin the solution, but has a definite reaction with the lead products of the plate to handicap the development of insoluble lead sulphate and assist the formation of peroxide-in recharging the battery.

' In forming the solution I 1.25 solution of sulphuric acid in one gallon of distilled water, to which-I add lb. of sodium carbonate, 2 ozs. of'sodium silicate,

1 oz. each of boric acid and tartaric acid,

and 1 oz..of carminic acid. In preparing the mixture I first prepare a 1.25 specific gravity solution of sulphuricacid in to which I add the lb. of sodium carbonate and the 1% oz. each of boric acid and tartaric acid. The 2 ozs. of silicate diluted with a pint of hot water is then added to the carmine and stirred into the compound solution.

This composite solution will not only bring old batteries up after bein cleaned up and treated with my solution, Imt will preserve the lates and prevent them from deteriorating y'sulphatmg, as well as permit them to act withhigher overall efiiciency in conversion of electric energy, as they not only prewhich tends to dislodge prefer to make a distilled water,

vent corrosion and excessive formation of Application filed February 4, 1927. Serial No. 166,026.

sulphate but they limit evaporation, as the precipitated silica is in mulsified form which does not materially damage internal resistance of the battery, but prevents slopping of liquid to a material extent in transportation and tends to form a crust on the top to retard evaporation.

The compound I have discussed above is one at which I have arrived after a long period of experimenting and have discovered to'be very effective for the purposes above noted. I am notclear in every respect as to the reactions which go on in promoting the beneficial results. The sodium carbonate reaction in combining with the preliminary acid solution produces a violent effervesccnce some portion of the sulphate detrituswhich clogs the action of the battery, and the boric, tartaric and carminic acids form a reaction with the lead and, as I believe, also with its sulphated products to form clean compounds of lead, or oxideof lead, which readily peroxidize under the influence of a charging current perr mitting a better charging action. They undoubtedly raise somewhat the internal resistance of the battery but not to a sulficient degree to antagonize the beneficial eiiect in other respects. The sodium silicate, moreover, tends to form a gelatinous mass which 89 retards loss from handling and slopping over and permits better action of the entire electrolyte by the reactions formed of the several forms of sodium salts liberated by the sulphuric and other acids.

While I have given certain proportions of these compounds as proving of high efiiciency, the proportions of their relative use may be modified within reasonable limits without interfering materially with the efi'ective action of the whole.

What I claim is:

A storage battery electrolyte containing a 1.25 solutlon in water of sulphuric acid towhich has been added in each gallon 1,, lb. of sodium carbonate, 1 oz. of boric acid, 1% oz. of tartaric acid, 1 oz. of carmine, and 2 ozs. of sodium silicate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES B. DILTZ.